San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-18

I
ALLEVIATE, leaving his grandson Gerald
| 1.-THE father being long since dead moth
ing but the title and the wreck of the
family property. Thus Gerald, when
he returned TO take up his inheritance,
found that there was only too great
cause for his mothers Off-repeated die
tum, Gerald must marry money" and
soon had shrewd suspicion that the
worldly old lady's affection for her
sweet cousin" Lord Foulis's niece
and heiTess, could be accounted for by
her desire once more to bring together
the Fouls title and property. His first
sight of Maude at once dissipated even
the haZiest idea of such an arrange
ment; and now he was firmly resolved
that in the present matter he would
have his own way, even If, to get it, he
had to go to the Colonies in search for
living.
But, when counting on the morrow's
post, they had not reckoned on Mrs.
Alverton herself.
Gerald instinctively drew Maude to
him, while Margaret sprang forward to
meet her aunt, and If possible to stem
the first rush of her anger.
MY dear aunt, how good of you! We
did not expect"
IL suppose not, Margaret; but a let
ter received from Maude this morn
ing made me uneasy, and determined
to come at once and see her. Maude,
my dear"-and she turned to her
daughter, who, recovering from her
surprise, now came forward calmly and
quietly-"your uncle has returned, and
1 fear L must cut short your pleasant
visit, even at the risk of interfering
with some OF your arrangements. Sir
Ralph hos hrpItUht hank ord Iamao
Berthe"
Il hardly see what possible connec-
ton there can be between Lord James
Bertie's movements and mine," ex-
claimed Maude haughtily; "and, as
matters stand at present, l do not
think Sir Ralph would care very much
to see me. But, mother, you seem
strangely to overlook the cause of my
yesterdays letter. Allow me to intro
duce Mr.. Gerald FOULS, my future hus-
band"
Its all her height and statuesque
beauty" said Mrs. Melford later, when
talking over the scene with her hus-
band. Il was shaking in my shoes,
and am morally certain Gerald would
have preferred being few miles away;
but there she stood so calm and haugh-
ty that should have thought her utter
ly unmOved, had not her face worn the
cold hard look 1t had when she first
came to u.s."
Mrs. Alverton seemed at first struck
dumb; but in very few minutes she
recovered herself. A perfect tornado
of words fell upon their ears; her suave
company-manners were thrown to the
winds, and the natural temper of the
woman showed itself.
She rallied at Maude for her selfish
ingratitude, her monstrous folly, in
throwing up Sir Ralph's heiressship
for the sake of pennilesS adyenturer,
of whom no one knew anything. Then
she opened the tlood-gates of her wrath
upon Gerald, declaring i'll the same
breath that he was scheming to secure
Maude's fortune, that he intended to
deprive her of her inheritance, but
that Sir Ralph Alyerton would not al
low his niece to throw herself away in
such fashion, even if Miss Alverton
were such a consummate fool as to do
30.
Gerald had hitherto stood quietly at
Maude'S side, as if asserting his right
to protect her even from her mother;
but, when he heard her name, he
turned toward her. exclaiming-
Miss Alyertonl Maude, what does
this meanl'
1T means, sir" exclaimed the angry
mother, that that silly girl will lose
all claim to Sir Ralph AlvertOn's estate
and affection, simply from listening to
your foolish wOoing Don't imagine
you will profit by her fOrtunel Not one
penny will she get if she marries an
artist"
"Oh, hush, mother, hushp cried
Maude, driven at last from her com
posture. Don't look at me like that,
Gerald l know deceived you about
my name; but don't you know what a
life mine has been; and, when l saw
you despised poor Maude Alyerton,
had not the courage to tell you | was
she. But do trust me; for indeed, in
deed there are two sides even to Cap
tain Warburton's story, black as it
seemed to you'll"
Margaret could scarcely believe her
ears. Was this passionate, pleading
woman her cold stately cousin? Even
Mrs. Alverton dropped the handker-
chief with which she had been hiding
her angry face to stare at her daughter.
Gerald looked longingly at the beau
tiful girl who, reversing their positions,
now pleaded so anxiously for the love
that but a few minutes since it had
been his greatest happiness to offer
her.
Just at this moment Jack came
quickly out of his studio, with pre-
ternaturally innocent expression, some
what belied however by the mirth in
his eyes. He greeted Mrs. Alverton
with solemn courtesy.
$50 you have discovered the lovers!
Really it is something to be thankful
for, that the folly of these young peo-
pie should have procured us the pleas
ure of visit from you. l must apollo
gise for not receiving you; but poor
artist must work, as you know"
"Mr. MelfOrd, do not know which
to admire most, the calm way in which
you ignore my justly-wOunded feelings
or the extraordinary view you seem to
take of Maude's engagement toto
-"-and she stopped, unable, in her
anger, to remember the name of her
daughters unwelcome sutton.
Now really this is too badl" returned
Jack. Il should have thought that
some one might have introduced mon
sieur le f,dur to youl Allow me"-and,
placing his hand ON Gerald's shoulder,
he forced him to face the astOnished
lady-"allow me to introduce to you
Gerald, Lord FOULS, fourteenth or fif-
teenth-which is it, Jerryl-baron of
that name, of the Grange, DOwnshire,
and Auchindarach. | think, Miss AL
verton. that just now you had slight
difficulty with this gentleman as to
your own name. May suggest that
you put the one deception against the
nfh M a